Haunts (1977)

May Britt plays a seemingly innocent farm girl convinced that her slovenly uncle (Cameron Mitchell) is the man responsible for the bloody scissor-murders of several local girls.

Director:

Herb Freed

Writers:

Anne Marisse, Herb Freed

Stars:

May Britt, Cameron Mitchell, Aldo Ray

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
May Britt	...	Ingrid
Cameron Mitchell	...	Carl
Aldo Ray	...	Sheriff
William Gray Espy	...	Frankie
Ben Hammer	...	Vicar
E.J. André	...	Doc
Kendall Jackson	...	Loretta
Susan Nohr	...	Nel
Robert Hippard	...	Bill Spry
Don Dolan	...	Hellman
Lette Rehnolds	...	Margaret
Jim McKeny	...	Bartender
Warren Peters	...	Howard Porter
Judy Franks	...	Mrs. Peterson
Bob Avery	...	TV Interviewer

Storyline

May Britt plays a seemingly innocent farm girl convinced that her slovenly uncle (Cameron Mitchell) is the man responsible for the bloody scissor-murders of several local girls.

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Plot Keywords:

farm | slasher | village | scissors | death | 

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Taglines:

The haunts from her past become the horrors of the present....

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Veil

Filming Locations:

Mendocino, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

American General Pictures, Entertainment Services International, Marrero Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Ban the Sadist Videos! (2005)

User Reviews

Offbeat Gothic Horror

I think the other reviewers here and elsewhere (myself included) were thrown off by the fact that the video distributors have incorrectly packaged this as another cheap '70s slasher/exploitation movie, and that's the reason for the negative reviews. This film is meant for a completely different audience. I myself started to become disappointed partway through the film when there was little action, but then I realized that this is not a typical slasher flick, but more of a Stephen King-style psychological horror film about the demons of small town life. That is when I started to enjoy it. Like King's novels, the story builds slowly, and there are several peripheral characters who may seem unimportant to the main storyline but contribute to the overall atmosphere. The movie does not have much gore or any nudity, but this is the kind of film that succeeds almost purely through its vivid, austere atmosphere, which was done so well that some of it reminded me of the work of Ingmar Bergman. The film isn't perfect, but director Freed shows a good eye for detail, and the washout cinematography is striking. I had never seen any of the actors elsewhere, but May Britt's lead performance was very competent. This is definitely not the kind of film for hardcore horror film buffs, as it doesn't fit under that genre category very well. Rather, it is a film for more serious, patient viewers who can appreciate a slower pace without instant rewards. For them, this is well-worth checking out.